It was with deep shock & sorrow
that we heard of the death of Bob White, 52, on Saturday 22nd March at King George V
playground, during a game of football.
We tender our sincerest condolences to his family and colleagues.

VILLAGE STALWART
IS SADLY MISSED...

...was
the headline in the Gloucestershire ECHO article written by Karryanne Clancy on Thursday
27th March 2003, following a conversation with a friend of Bob's Adrian Morgan. I quote
....."Bob White leaves behind a legacy of dedication to Shurdington Rovers FC. His
first match with the club was at the age of 14 and his dedication to the game and the
grounds never faltered. Every Saturday he could be seen on the pitch behind the Bell Inn
Public House in Shurdington marking out the pitch and putting up the nets ready for
kick-off. Bob was born and bred in the village and spent many years working at Marley
Buildings. He remained there for 25 years until the firm closed in 1991. He started a new
job in the accounts department of Wychavon District Council and also held a position on
Shurdington Parish Council for many years. His love of football never faltered and he took
an active part in some 1,500 matches. His highlight was a Treble in 1991 when the
club won the county cup, the Stroud League and the charity's cup. In 2002 Bob White was
given a Lifetime Achievement award."...

The funeral service took place on
Tuesday 1st April 2003 at noon in St Paul's Church, Shurdington, and was followed by
cremation at Cheltenham Crematorium. A wake was also held in his favourite haunt, King
George V Playground in Shurdington.

(SOUVENIR PROGRAMME)
See transcript on right.Click to enlarge

A hand drawn map of King George Playing
Field to a scale of 1/1250 - sadly undated and unsigned. (Click to enlarge)

Way back in 1937 a movement was started in
Shurdington for a Playing Field.

In June 1938, a scheme estimated to cost
£750 was circulated to each Elector in the Parish, and approval was given by a Parish
Meeting to raise a loan of £400 towards the cost.

By August 1938, the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners had agreed to a sale to the Council of 6.623 acres of Glebe Land at a cost
of £480. Arguments then took place between the Council, the Solicitors and the
Vendors, regarding restrictive covenants, Vendors Solicitor's costs, etc. Hard
knocks were given and received. A lease of the land was offered on the one hand and
compulsory purchase threatened on the other. However, by the end of June 1939, a
draft conveyance had been settled and application was made for a loan. It was now
the turn of the Ministry of Health to delay, and on the 15th December 1939, they wrote
refusing the loan owing to the outbreak of War. On the 4th March 1940, the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners sent the Conveyance to the Council for execution. The
Council had no money to complete, without the loan, and thus ended the Parish Council's
first effort.

After the War the Parish Council had to
enter into a fresh contract and also pay another £100 for the field. Restriction on
borrowing made a loan impossible. The Fund Sub-Committee then came into being and by
May 1948, handed to the Council a cheque for £500. With the subscriptions already
in hand of £160 the Council now had no need for a loan.

It is not possible to set out here
all the details and set-backs which were experienced up to the final conveyance to the
Council on the 16th June 1948.

Thanks to the grit and determination of the
people of Shurdington to acquire this particular field, it is now theirs, vested in the
Parish Council, as a public playing firld and recreation ground to be known forever as
"KING GEORGE'S FIELD."

A Layout has been agreed to provide
Cricket, Football, Hockey, Netball and School organised games areas. Children's
corner, Tennis Courts, Bowling Green, Car Park and Pavilion.

The official opening finds the Council at
the completion of the first stage of their scheme.

The council wish to place on record their
appreciation to Major Kenneth Shennan for his help in obtaining a grant of £325 from the
King George's Field Foundation and also to the Fund Sub-Committee for raising a sum over
£700.

PROGRAMME

3pm National Anthem.
Introduction by F W J Holliday, Chairman of the Shurdington Parish Council.
Opening of the King George's Field by Major Kenneth Shennan.
A. G. Bishop, Esq., MBE will thank Major Shennan on behalf of the Playing Field Committee.